Whole-grain products are no longer a niche part of the foodservice industry. Seventy-two percent of consumers want more whole-grain products from restaurants, according to a 2014 International Food Information Council survey. And some 10,000 food items with the whole-grain stamp brought in $9...

When the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF) held its first Force in Training (FIT) program, volunteers from several quick-serve brands stepped up to help high school students prepare for possible foodservice employment.
“Quick service is a very large segment of our...

When Salsa Fiesta opened its sixth domestic location last month, it rolled out a hybrid service model: quick serve for weekday lunches and full-service dining for evenings and weekends. Prior to opening the newest store in Miami Lakes, Florida, the Mexican concept had exclusively used limited...

When Tom Ferguson wanted to develop a burger food truck, he had a few advantages. By working out of his existing facility at Durham Catering Co. in Durham, North Carolina, he had ready access to a kitchen, staff, and equipment. It’s the same way he tested a now-shelved pasta concept and then...

Billy Sims says more people recognize him these days for his restaurants than for being a Heisman Trophy winner, which proves he’s more than just the name behind the Billy Sims BBQ chain.
“I get around to a lot of the stores, and I’ve done a lot of TV commercials,” Sims says. “People come up to me...

After years of steady growth, Krispy Kreme has ramped up its expansion. In February, the doughnut purveyor opened its 1,000th location in Kansas City, Kansas. Before the calendar year is up, it plans to open in six to eight new countries, mostly concentrated in the Asia-Pacific and Latin American...

When Technomic released a study last year that researched transparency in the supply chain, Garden Fresh Restaurant Corporation CEO John Morberg took the data seriously. The study found that most consumers want restaurants to be more transparent about ingredients, and Morberg knew customers at...

Starbucks customers want wholesome and convenient food choices for their busy lifestyles. Beginning March 31, they'll have two new options—a Thai-Style Peanut Chicken Wrap and an Edamame Hummus Wrap—available at participating U.S. company-operated and licensed stores nationwide.

Pieology Pizzeria announces that company founder, Carl Chang, is a 2015 recipient of the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by the Orange County Business Journal. According to the publication, this program is designed “to recognize those individuals who exemplify the American...

Papa Murphy’s Holdings Inc. announced a new partnership with Urban Gleaners and a $5,000 donation to support the organization in its efforts to alleviate hunger. Urban Gleaners collects edible, surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away and redistributes it to agencies that feed the hungry...

When it comes to ice cream intake, Florida is flourishing. The state is becoming the second largest consumer of ice cream in the nation. Cream is in the midst of a “cold-rush” itself, expanding to the Sunshine State. The San Francisco-based dessert franchise specializing in premium ice cream...

To make the end of tax season a little sweeter, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt will offer an exclusive discount to their Facebook fans to fill up their cups with fro-yo (up to 16 ounces) and toppings April 15 for $4.15. All fro-yo enthusiasts are encouraged to “like” Orange Leaf on Facebook and claim...

Evolution Fresh, a market leader in cold-pressed, High Pressure Processed (HPP) juice, and Dannon, the leading maker of yogurt in the US, today debut handcrafted Evolution Fresh Smoothies in 4,300 Starbucks stores in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, and in select Starbucks locations...

Fatburger has opened its first cobranded location in Tunisia with sister restaurant Buffalo’s Express. The fast casual duo brings all-American burgers and chicken wings to the country’s famous coastal town, La Marsa.

The new restaurant will offer local residents custom-built burgers in...

What can I possibly tell you about potatoes, dear quick-serve industry professional, that you don’t already know? It’s not as though you’re unacquainted with America’s favorite starch. You may even know that it’s the world’s fourth-largest food crop, trailing behind only rice, corn, and wheat,...

Like much of the rest of the economy, the 2008 economic meltdown brought a massive slow-down to the quick-service franchise industry. The combination of tightfisted money lenders and general economic uncertainty put franchise businesses in a near impossible position when it came to accessing...

When Lori Newcomb found out she had stage III ovarian cancer last year, she made it her mission to learn more about the disease and help other women fighting the same battle. She sat down with her husband, Chris Newcomb, cofounder and CEO of Southern quick-service chain Newk’s Eatery, and together...

Having started as a sandwich maker with Subway when he was 18 years old, Gurpreet Singh has spent nearly half his life in the quick-service industry. Now a Checkers franchisee, Singh has spent time in every quick-serve job imaginable: line worker, manager, general manager, and, today, franchisee....

What can I possibly tell you about potatoes, dear quick-serve industry professional, that you don’t already know? It’s not as though you’re unacquainted with America’s favorite starch. You may even know that it’s the world’s fourth-largest food crop, trailing behind only rice, corn, and wheat,...

While the fast-casual category continues to be the fastest-growing industry sector, the road in 2015 will be bumpy. We will see constant change and challenges around every corner. For industry leaders, there are issues that will keep even the most seasoned executive awake at night.
Here is my top...